A Tatter Lives Here

This is the placard that I have hanging in my studio.  It is ceramic with the tatting embossed into the clay and then painted.  The picture doesn't show it, but the shuttles are silver colored.

My ex-husband said that I really didn't need the sign to convey the fact that a tatter lived in our house.....the messiness of my house pointed to that truth.

Does anyone know who made/sold this?  It is probably 15-20 years old.

Denim Shirt Embellishment--Pattern Variation #2

 I used this triangle-shaped motif for the collar of my denim shirt project.

Round 1

*R1: 11-6.

RW
Ch: 8.
RW
R2: 6 + 5 - 5 (to p of R1).
Shoelace Trick/Switch thread position.
R3: 11 - 6.
RW
Ch 2: 8.
RW
R4: 6 + 5 - 5 (to p of R3).
R5: 6 - 5 - 6.
RW
Ch 3: 8.
RW
R6: 6 + 5 - 5 (to last p of R5).
RW
R7: 6 + 5 - 5 (to p of R2).
RW
Ch4: 8.
R8: 6 + 11 (to p of R7).
**
R9 to R16--Repeat from * to ** one time.
Cut & tie.

Round 2
R1: 11 + 6 (to p of Rnd1, R4)
R2: 6 + 11 (to p of Rnd 1, R5)
Ch1: 8.
RW
R3: 6 + 5 - 5 (to p of R1).
RW
R4: 11 - 6.
Ch 2: 8.
RW
Trefoil--R5: 6 + 5 - 6 (to p of R4).
R6: 6 + 10 - 6 (to p of R5).
R7: 6 + 5 - 6 (to p of R6).
RW
Ch3: 8.
R8: 6 + 5 - 6 (to p of R7)
RW/Shoelace Trick.
R9: 6 + 5 - 6 (to p of R3).
RW
Ch4: 8.
R10: 6 + 5 + 6 (to p of R9, to p of Rnd1, R12)
R11: 6 + 11 (to p of Rnd1, R13).

Historical Split Ring Tatting Pattern #5 (Anne Orr)

Anne Orr Pattern #5 from Cross-Stitch and Tatting, Book No. 14 (published by J. & P. Coats Co., 1923)

I have also included a bonus variation pattern.

Direct link to the pattern:
https://sites.google.com/site/theshuttlesmithinomaha/split-ring-tatting-history/anne-orr-patterns

Fondling my favorite thread stash--aka 'Inventory'

The other day I was taking inventory of my Anchor Cordonnet 20 thread.  I absolutely adore  this thread!!!  Some of this stash is 20+ years old.  I started buying it at the IOLI Convention in Puerto Rico (can't remember the year). 

When I started putting different colors of split rings together in my designs, I was noticing differences in thread size (within the same manufacturer/thread size) in different colors.  Thus I turned back to my old favorite---Anchor Mercer Cordonnet 20 for perfect results. 

The thread is still made and sold in Europe, but  only one place in the US sells it today (that I know of). 

When I was on the national needlework show circuit, Coats/Anchor would donate threads for my classes....and I approached the US importer/distributor about the possibility of getting it in....to no avail.  It was "Not available. Period". 

Now that I have just recently placed my order and have had email confirmation that 15 more balls of thread are on their way to me, I'll tell you of my source.   It is The Tatting Corner in Indiana.  Go to:
www.Tattingcorner.com.  Jennifer, the owner, is a bit like my drug-of-choice-dealer....she keeps me connected to 'the good stuff'.

I am so enamored with these threads that I have even paid a very premium price to order these threads from England to get large quantities of a grey-colored thread that I have need of for a large 'art' piece that I have designed (which I haven't started.)

These threads are amazing.  I can mix the 'new' threads bought from The Tatting Corner with my 'old' threads purchased 20+ years ago and they match in size.  The colors between lots/years match perfectly too.  My 'old' thread is as strong/non-breaking as it always was--and I put alot of pressure on my threads pulling my rings VERY tightly closed.

BTW, if anyone has some of these balls of thread that they don't completely love to the N'th degree and are willing to part with them, I would love to buy them!!!  Maybe we can work out a deal for one of my books:  Fun with Split Ring Tatting or MORE Fun with Split Ring Tatting.  Currently the balls of thread are going on the open market (aka The Tatting Corner) for $5.95 a ball.





My tatting/train trip to Colorado

Last weekend, I took a trip from my home in Omaha, Nebraska to Grand Junction, Colorado to visit my son (who I haven't seen since August).  I had always wanted to take the Amtrak train and decided that this was the perfect opportunity because it was winter, driving the 800 miles could be stressful.  The train (called the California Zephyr) picked us (my husband went too) up in Omaha at 11pm Saturday night, and we promptly settled down to sleep for the night.  The coach seats were very comfortable and had a large amount of leg room, plus adjustable leg supports and foot rests---100 times better than airlines.  We slept through the night and got to Denver about dawn.  From Denver on to Grand Junction, it was light out and the scenery was EXTRAORDINARY!  Coming out of Denver until the continental divide everything was covered in hoarfrost--quite the sight.

Hoarfrost scenery coming out of Denver into the mountains

This image is the best I have, and really doesn't do it justice.  Every little grass stem and thing was covered in glimmering frost. 

The trip from Denver to Grand Junction was all in daylight and I had planned ahead to spend the time tatting.  The train took us through all kinds of scenery but the most spectacular was going through canyons.  Every glance out of the train windows was beautiful in a different way.

This is me, in tatting glory in the Vista Car.

On the way there I tatted this!

Coming home, we got on the train in Grand Junction at 10:30 am and had daylight through the Rocky Mountains again all day until we got to Denver at dusk.....another full day of tatting glory.  From Denver we slept again, getting home to Omaha at 5:30am.  I had gotten enough sleep on the train that I went to work that day.

On the way home I tatted the piece on the table.  It is the same design element as the previous piece, just the motifs are joined in a different way, producing a very different appearance.  Both are destined to be in my 'Quilt-Inspired SRT Designs' book.

 

 

 

The two days that we were in Grand Junction with my son, we spent skiing and hiking.  Billy works for Powderhorn Ski Resort and got us very good rates on a day of skiing.  I didn't do any tatting that day.  I hadn't skiied for probably 10 years and was nervous about doing it, but I picked it back up quite quickly and was comfortable enough to keep up with my 20 year old son while doing blue/intermediate level ski runs.  I had a blast but was pooped out at the end of the day.

This is me on the ski lift at Powderhorn.  Quite the vista from there!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The second day, we went hiking to two different biomes:  1. up a ridge to a mesa  2. through a canyon.

This is Jerry and I during the Canyon Hike

The trip was an huge success.  We spent two days traveling on the train during which we were able to relax and enjoy spectacular scenery, doing what we enjoyed:  Me--tatting,  Jerry--reading, watching movies, napping.  I highly recommend train travel, especially the California Zephyr which takes you through the magnificent Colorado Rocky Moutains.  The two days not traveling was spent doing very physical activities that we have great memories of:  skiing and hiking.   I enjoyed seeing and spending time with my son in his chosen home.  I know why he loves it there...it really is a great place to live.  I miss him terribly but understand that he needs to find out where & how  he wants to live his life.  In the meantime, I have a great place to visit him in.   I will be doing this trip again....probably on the Amtrak train too.

My son, Billy, in his adopted home.

Quilt-Inspired Split Ring Tatting Designs 1

Just thought I'd show you what I've been working on lately.  This is one of my 'Quilt-Inspired' SRT designs.   As I write this I realize that I don't remember what the quilt-name is for this pattern---'something-Star'.  The quilt designs let me play with colors, which I think is one of the main things that quilters love about their artform.

 



Posts absence

I've been busy (at work) and haven't had the time to get to posts here.  I try to put something up with a photo...therein lies the additional problem in why I haven't gotten a post out--I haven't had the time to get photos either onto or of of my camera/thumb drive/computer.  So I thought at the very least I'd tell you what I've been up to.  All my tatting falls into the Split Ring category lately (and for the last 3-4 years).  I am finishing up 'one more' SRT cross for my 'Cross Book'.  I have been working on the computer on a 'SRT Alphabet Book'.  I have two alphabets worked up (designed & illustrated patterns created and edited one time): a 5 wide by 7 high capital letter alphabet and a 9wide by 10 high blockier capital alphabet with serifs.  I have designed a couple of frames for using the letters.  Right now a first draft is on its way to my tatting friend and editor Jennifer Bartling who will proof the patterns and has volunteered to tat up some of the letters and frames for inclusion in the book.

I have been having fun tatting what I call 'Quilt-Inspired' designs.  I've been taking photos of them as I get them done--they are not blocked or cleaned up in photoshop.  I will be putting them up here on my blog to see it they interest anyone or not.  Even if no one else likes them, I've been having fun creating them.  My creativity is in three steps:  1. finding inspiration on the internet or in life for a design, 2. creating the patterns on graph paper, 3. Tatting them up in thread.  I love each and every step!

I've been putting together class proposal ideas for a one-day workshop.  I'm going to visit my daughter in Tacoma, WA the first weekend in April.  Unfortunately it doesn't coincide with the Lacemakers of Puget Sound meeting weekend.  But they may be interested in having me come in on Saturday to lead a workshop.  Wouldn't that be fun to meet and hang out with tatters in a new area!!!!

In the future I am going to create a blog site with my resume and class proposal ideas in case anyone is looking for a workshop teacher (ME!!!).  The 2015 IOLI Convention is in my neighborhood (sort of) and I am hoping to be able to propose class ideas to them.  I live in Omaha, Nebraska and the convention will be in Iowa City, Iowa---a mere 5 hours away.  It's actually a city that I used to motorcycle to once a year (pre-divorce).

Enough of the past.

This weekend, I (and hubby) am boarding an Amtrak train in Omaha and riding it to Grand Junction, CO where my youngest (son) lives.  I haven't seen him since August!!!!  We get on in Omaha at 11pm Saturday night and ride through the boring parts of NE and CO during the night.  We get to Denver in the morning and then go through the majestic Colorado Rocky Mountains during the daytime.  I'm planning to sleep during the night and be wide awake for the mountain portion!  We get to Grand Junction, CO at 4pm and I get to see my baby (and buy him supper).  Monday and Tuesday we are skiing at Powderhorn Ski Resort (where Billy works).  Pray for me, because I haven't skiied in probably 10-15 years.  Hope I still remember how.  Wednesday we board the train to head home. 
I intend to take tatting along for the train.  We will probably be busy the rest of the time skiing, eating, and in my case spoiling my son while I can.  We are supposed to get back to Omaha at 6am on Thursday and if I get enough sleep on the train during the night, I will go to work that day.

Karen Bovard
The ShuttleSmith
Omaha, NE